About

At Horses Heal Australia, we are on a mission to empower and inspire individuals through connection. We deliver high-quality equine-assisted therapy to support anyone on a path of healing. Our programs and sessions provide people with an authentic way to heal, learn and grow as an individual. The techniques are designed to guide and support people in the therapeutic process so that when they leave, they feel clear and have gained valuable tools to assist you in your life.

Shafiqa Irwin is the director of Horses Heal Australia. She draws upon years of training, study, and her own journey to assist people in their life. Shafiqa maintains a private practice and draws upon different healing modalities that include mindfulness techniques, trauma-informed practices and horsemanship to support people. Her aim is to support and encourage people to grow into and accept all of who they are. She offers practical tools and strategies and help people to develop the skills to lead a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Shafiqa has always felt a deep connection with horses since a child. She started learning to ride horses at the age of seven, immersing herself in trail riding, saddle club type groups, and learning about horses and how to cater to their needs. Shafiqa struggled with depression, anxiety, and trauma throughout her childhood and relied on her relationship with horses to support her through those difficult times. Horses were a real saviour in her life, which lead her curiosity down the path of working alongside these powerful animals to assist the process of healing with horses.

In 2014, Shafiqa finished her training in Certificate II in Equine Studies in Victoria. After returning to her hometown of Byron Bay, Shafiqa started working closely with natural horsemanship, which increased her understanding and self-awareness while gaining more confidence and knowledge of how horses reflect our behaviours. In 2019, Shafiqa finished her Counselling Diploma in Equine Assisted Therapy. Shafiqa now supports and guides people to connect to the horses and to themselves for healing, growth, and empowerment.